On Wednesday we left Lisbon at 12.30 p.m. with four guests from Lusíadas Saúde on board our Remédio Santo.
After two days of preparing the boat for the season in Vilamoura and with a good northerly forecast, we were determined to make the most of this trip. It was Pureza’s first transport and our guests were excited to be part of this adventure.
As we got further away from the capital, the wind and the waves got bigger. By the time we reached Sesimbra, we were all infected by Tiago and Diogo’s joy at surfing waves on a perfect sailing day. At the office, the rest of the team were following us on our whatsapp group and when they realized that we were averaging 13 knots, they threw down the gauntlet: beat the 16-knot speed record on a BBDouro transport that belonged to Fernando.
Working has never been so much fun! Between bumps and bumps and to the sound of a playlist 👌 we surfed the waves singing and dancing with Rita controlling the electronics and the speed we were doing. We weren’t even discouraged by the first splash (courtesy of Diogo).
14… 15… 15.6… “Rita, film this one, it’s going to be this one!”
Rita filmed several attempts, but when the time came, she didn’t have her phone handy to record the panel reading 16 knots, just before we ran out of phone reception. She still sent a victory message to the whatsapp group, which would only be delivered hours later, after passing São Vicente, when we had reception again. But once you’ve achieved one goal, you immediately set a new one: “We’re still going to 17 knots!”
And off we went. It was “at the crest of a wave” (which caused Pureza to wake up standing up in the forward cabin) that the boat caught us all off guard and reached 17.2 knots. Records? Thanks to Nuno España, we still had time to take a photo of the monitor showing 17 knots.
After the boys had their fun, it was the girls’ turn to take the rudder. It was impossible to hide their childish smiles, they were so happy it didn’t even go unnoticed by our guests.
We passed Rope de São Vicente after midnight with 30 knots, but as we got closer to our destination, the wind and waves started to die down. In the final stretch, we woke everyone up to a perfect sunrise! So perfect that Tiago had to climb the mast to record the moment. What a trip!
They say that those who run for pleasure don’t get tired and we, even with a few hours of sleep, couldn’t be happier to have made this trip together and to be able to work doing what we love most every day. This time it was the four of us, next time it will be others. We know one thing for sure: no matter which team is on board, the feeling will be the same.
Monday we’re back in the office!
We Do Sailing
Diogo, Pureza, Rita and Tiago
